Unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) swarm control

Abstract

A method and a system for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm control is provided. The system includes a plurality of UAVs including a leader UAV and a plurality of follower UAVs communicably coupled with the leader UAV. The system further includes a Ground Control Station (GCS). The GCS determines a geo-location of the leader UAV and determines formation information based on the geo-location. The formation information indicates a relative position for each follower UAV with respect to the leader UAV. The GCS further transmits the formation information directly to each of the leader UAV and the plurality of follower UAVs. Each follower UAV receives the formation information and adjusts a position based on the formation information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) which include a leader UAV and a plurality of follower UAVs communicably coupled with the leader UAV; and   a Ground Control Station (GCS) which includes circuitry configured to:
 determine a geo-location of the leader UAV; 
 determine formation information based on the determined geo-location of the leader UAV, wherein the formation information indicates at least a relative position for each of the plurality of follower UAVs with respect to the leader UAV; and 
 transmit the determined formation information directly to each of the leader UAV and the plurality of follower UAVs, wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs is further configured to:
 receive the transmitted formation information, and 
 adjust a position based on the received formation information. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 dynamically determine the formation information for each of the plurality of follower UAVs based on a formation request and the determined geo-location of the leader UAV; and   transmit the determined formation information to the leader UAV and each of the plurality of follower UAVs.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the formation information further indicates at least one of a geographical starting point, a geographical ending point, one or more altitude positions for the plurality of UAVs along a flight path, a series of intermediate geographical positions or waypoints in the flight path, a separation distance between adjacent UAVs of the plurality of UAVs, or information about one or more speeds or velocities of the plurality of UAVs at corresponding waypoints. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the leader of the plurality of UAVs comprises an automobile. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit the formation information to each of the plurality of follower UAVs and the leader UAV at a predetermined frequency. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 receive inertial measurement unit (IMU) data from the leader UAV; and   determine the formation information based on the received IMU data, wherein the determined formation information further indicates changes in a direction for the leader UAV and each of the plurality of follower UAVs.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of UAVs includes an image capturing device which is configured to capture images or video streams, and transmit the captured images or video streams to the Ground control station (GCS). 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 receive target information from the leader UAV, wherein the target information indicates a location of a target to be captured;   determine the formation information based on the received target information; and   transmit the determined formation information to each of the plurality of follower UAVs, wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs is configured to control the image capturing device based on the target information in the received formation information.   
     
     
         9 . A Ground Control Station (GCS), comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 receive a user request for a plurality of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) including a leader UAV and a plurality of follower UAVs; 
 determine a geo-location of the leader UAV; 
 determine formation information based on the determined geo-location of the leader UAV and the received user request, wherein the formation information indicates at least a relative position for each of the plurality of follower UAVs with respect to the leader UAV; and 
 transmit the determined formation information directly to each of the plurality of follower UAVs, wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs further:
 receives the transmitted formation information, and 
 adjusts a position based on the received formation information. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The ground control station (GSC) according to  claim 9 , wherein the formation information further indicates at least one of a geographical starting point, a geographical ending point, one or more altitude positions for the plurality of UAVs along a flight path, a series of intermediate geographical positions or waypoints in the flight path, a separation distance between adjacent UAVs of the plurality of UAVs, or information about one or more speeds or velocities of the plurality of UAVs at corresponding waypoints. 
     
     
         11 . The ground control station (GSC) according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 receive inertial measurement unit (IMU) data from the leader UAV; and   determine the formation information based on the received IMU data, wherein the determined formation information further indicates changes in a direction for the leader UAV and each of the plurality of follower UAVs.   
     
     
         12 . The ground control station (GSC) according to  claim 9 , wherein the ground control station (GSC) is integrated with the leader UAV. 
     
     
         13 . The ground control station (GSC) according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 receive target information from the leader UAV, wherein the target information indicates a location of a target to be captured;   determine the formation information based on the received target information; and   transmit the determined formation information to each of the plurality of follower UAVs, wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs is configured to control an image capturing device based on the target information in the received formation information.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 in a Ground Control Station (GSC):
 receiving a user request for a plurality of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) including a leader UAV and a plurality of follower UAVs; 
 determining a geo-location of the leader UAV; 
 determining formation information based on the determined geo-location of the leader UAV and the received user request, wherein the formation information indicates at least a relative position for each of the plurality of follower UAVs with respect to the leader UAV; and 
 transmitting the determined formation information directly to each of the plurality of follower UAVs, wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs further:
 receives the transmitted formation information, and 
 adjusts a position based on the received formation information. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the formation information further indicates at least one of a geographical starting point, a geographical ending point, one or more altitude positions for the plurality of UAVs along a flight path, a series of intermediate geographical positions or waypoints in the flight path, a separation distance between adjacent UAVs of the plurality of UAVs, or information about one or more speeds or velocities of the plurality of UAVs at corresponding waypoints. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving inertial measurement unit (IMU) data from the leader UAV; and   determining the formation information based on the received IMU data, wherein the determined formation information further indicates changes in a direction for the leader UAV and each of the plurality of follower UAVs.   
     
     
         17 . An electronic device, comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 determine target information which indicates a location of a target to be captured, and wherein the location of the target is at an offset distance from a location of the electronic device; 
 determine formation information for a plurality of follower Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), wherein the formation information indicates at least a relative position for each of the plurality of follower UAVs with respect to the electronic device; and 
 transmit the determined formation information and the target information directly to each of the plurality of follower UAVs, wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs further:
 receives the transmitted formation information and the target information, and 
 adjusts a position based on the received formation information and the target information. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of follower UAVs includes an image capturing device and wherein a field-of-view (FOV) of the image capturing device is controlled based on the received target information. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic device comprises a wearable device. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic device is integrated in an automobile, a portable electronic device, or a wearable device.